Introduction

Transhumanism has many related disciplines and terms, so much so that few organisations need primarily self-identify as a 'transhumanist organisation'. However when one examines a number of key fields, one can often identify the largest concentrations of transhumanists, self-identified, de facto and otherwise having similar organisational relationships.

Private Sector

Biotech

Biomedical research organisations like SENS and Calico are high profile advocates of life extension. However many more mainstream organisations are pushing back the frontiers of medical research in the field of gerontology, neurology and many more.

Information technology

Businesses, often those associated with Silicon Valley or the technology sector may embrace futurist ideas of their founders, such as digital immortality in development from Facebook, however such affiliations are usually kept to a low profile.

Cryonics

Cryonics has long had a close relationship as a part of the transhumanism movement and as its own entity, with many advocates seeing it as a 'Plan B' for life extension and self-preservation.

Artificial intelligence

AI research, a cousin of both transhumanism and futurism is undergoing tremendous growth in interest. MIRI, founded by transhumanist Eliezer Yudkowsky and OpenCog from Ben Goertzel are both highly futurist projects in the AI space, with the conversation, especially around AI risk entering mainstream political debate.

Community

Offline communities

Offline, transhumanists tend to be associated with the technology sector and some times the arts often with associations with respective online communities. Many events will be based around meetups.

Biohackers, body modders and nootropic users

Biohacking sometimes known as 'DIY transhumanism' has a growing following through sites like Biohack.me, with its spectrum flowing into traditional body modification. Responsible community led drug research organisations such as the Psychonaut Wiki and Erowid aim to support people expanding their consciousness and capabilities in a responsible and safe way.

Many prominent science fiction authors are transhumanists or have been the first to express certain transhumanist ideas.

Public sector

Academia

Within academia, professional futurists may engage in future studies or other cross-disciplinary research touching on transhumanist ideas. Singularity University was one of the first overtly futurist organisations to focus on these areas, though many established institutions may have established futurist related function often related to their science disciplines.

Government

Within a government context, transhumanism is possibly most associated with DARPA, the US military advanced research projects division. Many governments have 'futurist' departments such as the UK government's Foresight projects division, with topics such as AI and longevity making their way into serious political discussion.